BROCKTON – Mayor Bill Carpenter is seeking to reduce late-night crime by revoking the overnight permits of two Brockton businesses.

“Recurring” shootings and drug activity at the 7-Eleven on Belmont Street and Yasso Stop N’ Gas on Warren Avenue prompted the Police Department to recommend closing the businesses between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Last weekend, investigators found 11 shell casings outside the 7-Eleven after a gunfire.

At the end of March, police arrested one of the city’s “50 worst criminals,” outside the Stop N’ Gas with 16 baggies of heroin, 19 baggies of cocaine and a knife. A week later, a man was stabbed outside the gas station and died a few blocks away.

“It’s like moths to a candle,” Police Chief Robert Hayden said. “This city will be safer if there’s no place to congregate at that time. We’ll see a lot less potential for problems.”

Carpenter has the authority to seek the revocations through an ordinance that gives the mayor control over special permits granting businesses the ability to operate during those hours.

However, the ordinance also requires the mayor to call a public hearing and appoint a hearing officer to make the final decision.

The hearings are both scheduled for Aug. 28 at City Hall. Carpenter said he will most likely select an outside attorney to serve as the hearing officer.

“The chief and I are constantly looking at what proactive steps we can take to make the city safer,” Carpenter said. “In this case, the police have identified two all-night locations that have long histories of recurring problems around violence and drug distribution.”

This is the first time the mayor has sought to revoke such special permits.

Earlier this year, he mandated that all businesses with the permits install or maintain extensive video surveillance systems, similar to those now mandated for bars and restaurants open after midnight.

There are about two dozen businesses utilizing the special permits, including gas stations, convenience stores and pharmacies. Businesses that serve food or sell alcohol fall under the purview of the License Commission.

Ike Asoguh, owner of Yasso Stop N’ Gas, was not available for comment this week, his wife Joyce Asoguh said. She said she did not know about the public hearing.

7-Eleven franchisee Samuel Matuawana said losing four hours of operation every night would cost him $100,000 to $200,000 per year and three employees.

He said that he has private security on at night instead of a police detail, as required under his permit, because the police have recently not been available to staff his location.

“They said they couldn’t find anyone,” Matuawana said. “I had to hire security.”

Page 2 of 2 - Carpenter said Matuawana has not requested a police detail in the last six months.

It is not fair to single out his store, Matuawana said, because he has little control over the small percentage of people who cause trouble outside. He has told his staff to call police when necessary.

“Even if you call 10 times, you’ve got to call,” Matuawana said he tells his employees. “We can’t fight these people.”